In the post pandemic world, we have never been more digitally connected, having pivoted our work and social interactions online. Yet loneliness continues to be a growing problem for Australians of all ages. The problem has become so prevalent that it is now being recognised as a global health emergency.

 

Before the pandemic, one in four Australians experienced problematic levels of loneliness, equating to five million Australians at any one time. Now, one in two Australians have reported feeling lonelier due to reduced social connection, with 18-25 years (early career) and 56-65 years (established employees)² experiencing the worst levels of loneliness.

Healthy and happy employees result in greater productivity and overall business success³. With loneliness growing in Australia, this represents a looming health challenge requiring urgent attention⁴. The statistics are as follows:
 

Specific to work life, loneliness is associated with poorer job performance and job satisfaction, lower organisational commitment, and reduced creativity. Additionally, lonely employees report more workplace errors, take more sick leave, and have a stronger intention to quit.

AIA Embrace is our holistic wellbeing ecosystem of world-class programs and partnerships designed to support people’s everyday health and wellbeing at every stage of life’s journey. At AIA Australia, we recognise the importance of social connection and the impact that loneliness is having on the health of working Australians. That’s why we have partnered with Ending Loneliness Together, a national network of organisations and individuals united to address the growing problem of loneliness. 

 

Dr Michelle Lim, leading scientific expert and current Chair of Ending Loneliness Together says loneliness in employees can have detrimental impacts for businesses.

 

“Loneliness is not the same as being alone. You can be surrounded by colleagues online or in person and still feel lonely. It is instead about how connected we feel with those around us,” Lim says. 

 

“Without a collective national approach to understand, prevent, and reduce loneliness, the physical, social, and mental wellbeing of Australians will suffer. And the ripple effect will be that businesses suffer too. That’s why addressing loneliness is everyone’s responsibility,” Lim continues.

 

“This new transformative partnership with AIA will bolster our ability to work collaboratively in developing evidence-based solutions and reach more Australians to change the trajectory of loneliness at an individual, workplace, and community level.”

 

Our aim is to champion Australians to live healthier, longer, better lives through prevention-based activities by improving five modifiable behavioural risk factors – physical inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking, excess alcohol, and our interaction with the environment. This helps to prevent four non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – cancer, diabetes, respiratory, and heart diseases – that cause 90 per cent of Australian deaths. Like other modifiable factors, we can also harness the power of social connection to promote better health and wellbeing.

 

Through this new partnership, AIA Australia and Ending Loneliness Together will raise awareness and educate the Australian community about loneliness and its impacts on population health, wellbeing, and productivity.

 

The partnership will assist AIA and our clients in developing strategies to help employers support employees to build meaningful social interactions and relationships, using evidence-based tools to reduce loneliness, and implementing appropriate workplace intervention measures to facilitate recovery for those experiencing loneliness.

 

If you would like to know more, please contact your AIA Head of Partnerships or Client Development Manager.